An Old Familiar Feeling
May 9th, 2012 by 'holic
What a strange week this is turning into. There is some exciting stuff going on, which hopefully will become clear in the next week or so. There is also the almost unbearable tension building ahead of Sunday’s visit to the Hawthorns. Throw into the mix a week of incredible activity on social media sites, and last night’s unexpected (for me anyway) viewing of Fever Pitch on Film Four and is it any wonder our hormones are all over the place?
Sunday really is the only thing that I can truly concentrate on despite valiant attempts at distraction by so many elsewhere. For the third time a generation of Gooners face the prospect of finishing behind our friends and neighbours. That generation has never known such an event. Sunday for them will be a day of destiny. Will the four horsemen of the apocalypse ride through the tunnel at the final whistle, or will the valiant St Totteringham slay them for a seventeenth consecutive year and spark another wild celebration?
If we are celebrating our favourite Saints Day on Sunday evening it will be the latest ever, beating May 12th 1984 by a day. In the Arsene Wenger era we have faced this prospect on the last day twice before. Nobody will forget the events of 2006 when we bowed out of Highbury with a come-from-behind win over Wigan Athletic, going pasta our neighbours courtesy of their tribulations at West Ham. Fewer will recall, I suspect, that a similar prospect was looming just two years ago. Fortunately a weakened Fulham arrived at the Grove with one eye very much on their upcoming Europa League Final and we knocked four past them while Burnley were doing the same to Tottenham at Turf Moor.
It is worth remembering we were very much looking at an early cancellation of the feast at ten past two on February 26th. Two down in the North London derby, and facing a thirteen point deficit , the Gunners were sparked into life by a Bacary Sagna header. Just over an hour later Robin van Persie and his men walked off to the mother and father of ovations after a remarkable 5-2 win.
In truth we have only ourselves to blame for having not already sealed third place given the Lilywhites spectacular collapse since then. We have been matching them slip-up for slip-up since Mikel Arteta limped off just eight minutes into the Wigan home game. Four without a victory despite having no midweek distractions. Let’s not forget a third side is involved in the shake-up on Sunday, with Newcastle praying for both North London clubs to crash.
I have swayed wildly from calm optimism to full-on jibbering wreck of doom, and at the end of the day that is what makes football simply irresistible. Every emotion is experienced following the fortunes of your club. Is this the time that a new generation discovers what will feel like the ultimate disappointment? I think not, really. But if it does happen I’ll give you a clue. These last seventeen years have felt all the sweeter because of the eighteen times it didn’t happen in my forty-fifteen years on the planet. Have a skinful, stay away from Twitter, and you’ll find the desire to get back in the saddle in August will soon return.
I’ll be back on Friday night, ‘holics, with a confident forecast for the final ‘holic pound of the season. Stay chilled, and if you want to read up some more on St Totteringhams Day, then click here to see Mike Pitt’s invaluable goldmine of data.
290 Responses to “An Old Familiar Feeling”
1st?
Bravo usama
Great writeup. But it will be one of the most nervous weeks of my life nonetheless.:) .
Hope Robin can do what Henry did on that day.
Good midweek blogging, ‘holic!
Proof that I’m on the mend Ollie 🙂
Hormones all over the place?
No thanks, I can get all that at home…..
Good find on St Totterinham’s history.
Heh zico. 😀
Hellollie.
Alright usama.
By the way you can play spot the ‘holic in that pic (but Ollie is barred from entering) 😉
Good to hear, usama.
Where’s Holic?
Just above the “m” in Emirates, I reckon. 8)
😉
Why can’t Bilbao score, ffs?
Some Cuntski cunt will lift a European Cup tonight.
And he’s Belgian, to add insult to injury.
Cunt not wearing his T-shirt 😉
Nice one Holic .
Spot you in the pic ? No chance , my eyes are feeling the strain after thirty-seventeen years 😉
Heh, Ollie – he’s a maverick.
Bollocks 3-0 . Poor old Bilbao .
3-0 bah, game over, I’ll switch to the Champo now, it looks like there’s more suspense there.
But heh, do they have a Spanish announcer at the Europa League final? Impressive.
Sinr
I actually meant that Ballague was privy to inside info rather than being the smug git that he can be.
I’ve got a lot of respect for Laurens. He’s respectful of AFC. Afterall he was the one who put it out there that Nasri was a C*** several seasons ago.
It was a fiver for the last match logo on the shirt. Didn’t want to cover it up. #tightoldsod
Hmm, that would be the Championship play-off game which is ‘live’ on L’Equipe TV but doesn’t seem to be on the screen now.
Cunts cunts cunts.
Those French channels have no respect for their audience. pissed off
**name now updated**
heh GT
I was also going to say “the one above the m” but zico beat me to it 🙂
As for Sunday, I am also swaying wildly between very confident and being completely convinced we’ll bugger it all up and finish fifth.
But if the worst comes to pass then we’ll just have to take it on the chin (though I suspect Wolfie may want to take it somewhere else). Just like the Holic says, the emotions are what makes football such a wonderfully great game.
Bring on Sunday!
I beg your pardon Lars ? 🙂
Well Wolfie, you ain’t getting it from me if that was what you were hoping for…
One good result tonight: Birmingham won’t be in the Premier League next season.
Wolfie’s been left to his own devices.
Whips are extra.
Oh Holic, I think we should address you as Dr Holic, from now on. Often wonder if you kept a journal all these years, to help refresh your memory of all things Arsenal. If not, you have one amazing cerebral cortex !!! BTW, I shall encorporate your ingenius method of calculating one’s (clears her throat) age, next time I’m updating my resume (really smiling).
Quite happy for you to take mine on the chin Lars , if that’s what you prefer 😉
Quite right Dr Z .
Erm, thanks for the offer, Wolfie, but I think I shall pass on that one!
Oh he made a pass at her…..erm, him!
Evening nurse.
I preferred being thirty-eleven 🙂
@ Lars and Zico –
‘Holic is “the man above the M”? Bah, I’m quite sure he’s the brotha scoring the goal… 😉
BMBD.
Nurse Abb – how are you sweetie? 😉 Unfortunately, we can’t go giving away more scientific/medical honorifics.
There are too many doctors and misters in this bar as it is. We have to keep ‘Holic squarely in the political realm… Guv’na
BMBD.
Lonestar,
He only moves like that on his way to the bar 😉
Hello To ALL, Lonestar, I can’t remember what I ate yesterday…don’t know how he does it! Very jealous actually. Anyway, how are you doing, we’ve missed your big Texan attitude!
unreasonably happy that I guessed ¨where´s Holic?¨correctly before confirming from Zico and Ollie.
PS – I tried to zoom in to look at faces, then realised I didn´t need to 😉
Well now I see we are just one short of all docs in the house. Hey Dr C. Hope you have your prescription pad at the ready…we’re gonna need it Sunday, methinks. Anyway, time to get ready for work. Nite all.
Indeed I do, Nurse.
Keep practising by giving myself tranquilisers. That´s aloowed, isn´t it?
I’m here Nurse Abb – tranqs are just wearing off.
Just noticed Catalan’s comment which I honestly hadn’t spotted before. See, we doctors know how to keep calm. 😉
Thanks for the “distracting” post ‘Holic, to help keep our minds off Sunday and The Spuds.
Now that was a band . . . .
Heh! … “going pasta our neighbours” -> Good stuff ‘Holic 😀
Last night’s combined Fever Pitch viewing and tweet-fest was an unexpectedly good end to Tuesday.
Looking forward to a nervous Super Sunday. Think we’ll squeak 3rd and The Vulgarians will squeak the title.
Que sera sera.
In recent years, the football season for us Arsenal fans, has worn out its’ welcome by the end of March, or at best, limped into April as we cursed our luck with injuries and other self-induced clusterfucks. Whenever it happened, it has typically been all well in advance of the annual prize-giving. So it’s slightly strange that we find ourselves gripped with mania as we approach what is normally a dead-rubber weekend.
I said last week, that whatever happens come Sunday, we should be thankful for some of the really enjoyable moments this season has delivered. I still stand by that. But having seen us do our best to relinquish 3rd spot last week, only to have it presented straight back to us on a plate the day after, has made me covetous all over again : qualifying for the Champions League is, if not a trophy (as Arsene would have it), of stupendous importance to where we go next as a club.
Finish third, and we stand a great chance of building on the strong foundations that are there. Most agree that we need to make 2 or 3 quality signings to improve the first team squad. With everybody fit we are not that far away. We have seen that when we get it right, tactically and mentally, that we can cope with Manchester City, Chelsea, and yes, the magnificent (i.e. delusional) marsh-dwellers up the road. Just a couple of judicious signatures (added to Robin’s) and we’ll be on our way.
Failure to finish third though will bring its’ own agonies – probably a cancelled appointment with our patron saint, having to endure the Champions League Final as more than dis-interested by-standers, and even should that result go our way, still find that our transfer policy is once again dictated by how well we may do in a qualifying tie. (Udinese was a close escape last year and I believe explained the late flurry of signings at the end of the window). Perhaps most critically, though, if there is no Champions League place, we as good as write Robin’s “Dear John” letter for him.
I don’t subscribe to the theory that failure to qualify for the big competition “could be the best thing to happen to Arsenal”, as some would have it, as if it will somehow result in a communal Damascus moment in the Boardroom, which all of a sudden sees Stan et al splashing the cash to make things right – such failure would merely see us on a much restricted budget, struggling to attract players, and descending into the cycle of mediocrity that Liverpool are currently enduring.
(Although at least we can be confident that we won’t spend £35m on a horse).
Indeed, at a time when new sponsorship deals are soon going to be ” up for grabs” (sorry), the last thing we need is to be out of the main European picture, either now or in a year’s time.
I know all of the above has been said before. I know we all know what’s at stake.
But this game coming up IS a cup final.
And we are going to win it, right?
Now, be a dear and pass me the valium.
Valium and pasta. The menu has apparently been written by committee, but all well and good. Pass me the valium and send on the pasta please barman.
You can’t get one past me. I saw that ‘holic and TH14 had color-coordinated shirts. How cool is that? 😉
Off-topic, I know, but that Kate Middleton has quite some calf muscles. Her instead of M’Vila?
http://omg.yahoo.com/blogs/aline/kate-middleton-wears-daring-dress-night-prince-william-161810432.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2142002/Robin-van-Persie-rejects-Juventus-move.html
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/spain-likeliest-van-persie-destination-825907
Can anybody find where he said the words he’s been attributed to? I’ve looked for it all over the Internet and can’t seem to find it!!! It’s driving me crazy!!
Never mind, it was said to “close friends.” No quotes attached. Rumors are that it came from his camp.
As for today, Happy Birthday to DB10 who is 43 today! Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWrC2Ms5uP8&feature=youtube_gdata_player
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qj73WeBSmb0&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Snir
sorry about spelling your name wrong fella.
I’m sure typos get annoying sometimes, depending upon what it is.
I must say, that piece by JC sounded quite decisive.
Holic
I was always under the impression that we have never been relegated before.
Apparently the source of the M’Villa rumour is supposed to be someone who usually talks a load of fog-wash, who has his facts straight this time round.
Only time will tell.
In my mind I cannot see anything (staged or not), but a 3 point outcome on Sunday.
After-all, it’s the new corporate look Arsenal. Hopefully, if Hodgson (and I am not implying anything here), wants to continue borrowing our starlets, he’ll consider ending his last game in charge of wb on a light note.
Among all this talk of mental strength etc. in crucial games, one worthwhile observation is that our record in Champions League qualifiers is rather decent. And some of them were tough, for instance the Udinese matches this season. Maybe the team would be better prepared taking this game as a CL qualifier and not as the last game of the PL season against a mid-table team?
About the team against WBA, Ramsey evidently is not fully physically fit and/or mentally sharp. I thought he played his role well against stoke, but based on his performance against Norwich it might be too much of pressure on an young man who is out of form and who obviously sets a very high standard on himself. If things unfortunately get tricky, he may not be able to stay calm enough for the very key role he would be playing in the midfield.
The most obvious choice would then be to use Coquelin along with Song and Jenkinson at the RB. But Jenk hasn’t played for a while, and even though he would most definitely not lack in the efforts category (or in quality of his crosses that has been consistently impressive) his decision making in the defensive third has to be sharp and mature too.
How about leaving Coquelin at RB, and play the midfield we had against Milan at home: Song-Rosicky-Ox? With explicit direction to Song to not make forward forays until clearly asked to do so towards the later part of the game based on the game situation. If Song protects the back four, and TV5 and Gibbs stay disciplined then defensively we will okay. The goals I believe would take care of themselves.
If Theo is fit, I think he should start. For all his inconsistency, he tends to make key contributions in important matches. This would also allow for a fluidity in attacking third where RVP can drop deeper, Theo can move in centrally and Ox can move out to right.
If we need goals towards the later part, then Chamakh can be brought in for Benayoun/Ox or if we need to protect lead then Djourou for Ox/Benayoun and Djorou dropping deep to provide a two man defensive midfield screen, or Jenkinson for Benayoun/Ox moving Coquelin to the holding midfield role.
Anyway, some random ruminations…that is the best I can do to stave off the tension. 🙂
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/football/view/250461/Robin-Van-Persie-is-Gunner-stay/
This is what PHW has to say about our skipper.
Goonertown, we were relegated before moving to Highbury.
Morning all. No Virgin Media email again this morning. Apologies.
Nice post mate.
Great post Holic. I remember the Fulham last day worrying. Roy was at the helm then and helped us out a bit. Vela chip to round the day off as was the norm back in those days. Burnley result was the most hilarious thing ever! My LWC friend was going on about putting 10 past them and they ended up losing…
Will print out the history of St Totteringham’s Day and read it on the train later this evening. Should be a good laugh.
@28: Ollie, their club and fans won’t but some of their players might be. I noticed some of them have been sneaking into midtable teams since they went down…and West Ham might make it up with Big Sam if they beat Blackpool (shudder)
@53: Goonertown, Royal Arsenal got relegated and during relegation our name changed to Arsenal and we came back up a year or two later after the name change, or so the legend goes. So that’s why people say “Arsenal” has never been relegated. We hold the record for longest uninterrupted spell in the top division though!
Oh and Happy Birthday to Dennis Bergkamp!
Crack open the case of Heineken and the bottle of valium from behind the bar and let’s start celebrating.
Sorry, I made a mistake. The name change was from Woolwich Arsenal to Arsenal during relegation. 😉
Great post Holic, must get around to watching Fever Pitch 🙂
This is by far the joke of the season.
http://www.tribalfootball.com/articles/real-madrid-boss-mourinho-targets-arsenal-keeper-almunia-3166351
James Olley from the Evening Standard is adamant we’re not in for M’Vila.
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/sport/football/arsenal-go-cool-on-yann-mvila-move-7728385.html
Holic @ 57 and COR @ 60 – 61
Thank you for clearing that up for me
According to the arsenal companion we moved to Highbury on Friday 3 April 1914, which is also when we dropped the geographical location reference(from Woolwich Arsenal to Arsenal).
Morning Snir
Apologies if you felt I was being ‘overly firm’ last night. Didn’t think you were the sensitive sort 😉
Go easy on those links BTW. If they’re driving you crazy now, I fear for the state of your ‘crystal big’uns’ come the off-season.
Try to relax and enjoy that summer holiday! There’ll be no Arsenal matches to distract you form other activities 🙂
Cor,
That St.Tott’s day link is a gold mine of info to help with the odd LWC wind-up should you care to partake of one or two.
My thanks also ‘H for that link. Splendid.
Great read holic,just makes me jealous reading 1st you been able to watch the gunners week in week out 2nd what a memory.zico also nice piece pass me the valume double heh,there will be none left at this rate.
Blimey, what would that 3 points from 4 games be if we had still been competing in the Champions League and FA Cup, as we would have hoped? Minus 3 points?
Let’s face it, this is the furthest we have been from a title-challenging team since the mid-90’s.
Snir
That appears to be the same James Olley who was adamant Arsenal had agreed a Fee with Rennes, only a couple of days ago.
He now appears to be saying that the story was only a hoax etc. Reading between the lines, the story was supposed to be a regurgitation (if you would like to call it that), of a story instigated last summer (during the transfer window). I seem to remember a similar story from the summer about us going in for the player but we missed the deadline etc.
JO sounds like a typical lazy journalist.
Ha’wey mun!
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With thanks
Edwin.
GT – I don’t really care who he is, or what he says tbh, I’m just posting it here. I’m just the messenger 🙂
TS – I wasn’t being sensitive at all, don’t worry!
As for the links – I just got an answer from my previous job in Israel that they’ll take me back for the summer so I won’t have a lot of time to deal with transfers anyways.
But!
I’m going back to the US at the beginning of July, so that’s two whole months of crazy transfer life!
I love the transfer time zone! It’s GMT+LANS !!
Snir,
I might speak on behalf of many here that we can’t wait for you to enter your period of ‘crazy transfer life’ rumours and dealings on your return to Raleigh(?). I fully expect each ‘Holic post to top 1000 drinks during the summer months.
‘Holic, you may wish to upgrade the memory, processor, HDD and connectivity bandwidth at your ISP? 😉
Snir,
Did you ever get that feedback from your ‘close friend’ who was meeting with Jan V or one of his representatives?
Yeah, Raleigh it is. For now.
http://www.101greatgoals.com/blog/how-rooney-ferdinand-gerrard-reacted-to-roy-hodgsons-appointment-as-england-manager/
This is absolutely hilarious!!!
TS – From what I understood we’re not even in for him at the moment. His only concrete offer from England at the moment is Spurs.
Snir @ 72
Sounds like you’re being sensitive again.
My comment was in reference to the two articles this guy at the Mirror wrote within 48 hours. It’s the type of journalism which gets on peoples nerves.
Next time I’ll just stick to your sources regarding transfers, as they appear more reliable (ie; Podolski).
Another thing I have come to realise is that an agreement between clubs does not mean that personal terms have been met with the player ie; the player can pulled out, regardless of whether the story is a load of gas or not!
I think it’s time for a fag (cigarette)!
Steve Bould will replace Pat Rice
Farewell Mr Rice
Welcome Mr Bould (into first team)
Happy birthday Mr Berkamp
How come the Press Conference is today? :s
When asked about M’Villa at today’s’ PC AW said:
“It’s not true a deal is done for M’Vila,”
“We have not been in touch with anybody and we are not near to any deals for anybody.”
(This is almost, if not identical, to what he said when asked about Podolski, before he signed)
So I take this to mean, we are in for him but need to close the deal!
Simples!
Wind is a happy boy today…… 🙂
Dr Z @45 – Good stuff . You’ve just ramped up my fear factor to dangerously high levels !!
Sunday is the most important game Arsenal have faced since the Champs League Final of 2006 . I am discounting the game against Fulham in 2010 – was there ever any real doubt we wouldn’t qualify then ?
3rd place is not a trophy , but it is perhaps a sad fact of the football world now that it is unequivocally more important than both the FA and League Cups.
Win , and RVP stays, established players will join , and we can go into next season with realistic hopes of a tilt at the title .
Lose , and we face a momentous struggle to stand still , which even the genius of AW might struggle to pull off .
Comparisons with Newcastle are fatuous . Yes , they picked up decent players outside of the Champs League places , but expectations are much much lower . They finish fifth and it is seen as success , at Arsenal it is a huge failure .
Failure on Sunday will put Arsenal back at least 2 years in their attempts to remain financially competitive , even with Arsene pulling out all the stops . It might be much much longer if the BBB get their way , or Arsene decides he has simply had enough .
The stakes are high . Roll the dice Arsene …
tabs, on that note I would like to make it very clear that I hope we will never have to see if my theory about us being able to handle the summer even if we fail on Sunday holds water. And yet, even if we finish third we might still do a summer as awful as last one and then we are doomed anyway 🙁
Thinking about the game makes me horribly nervous so I better get back to work now…
Agreed Lars , hope your theory is never tested .
The importance of the weekend is only now beginning to really sink in .
Lawdy lawdy …
Sunday is most important game in years.
So many seasons riding on this game.
Yes its true, I AM a very happy boy today as Dr C @ 81 suggested 8)
Wind
I think Snir´s head may explode when he sees…. 😉
Wind, just saw the pic, good stuff!
Thanks Lars 🙂
And heh Dr C 😆
tabs @ 82, if Carlsberg did rallying calls… 🙂
great piece holic we’ll be having our saints day on sunday nice piece of history ref 1984 how could we forget 06 and i’ll take your advice and have a skin full.
Heh Wind, thanks , but the big topic for today is did you get to ask Sol any questions ?
Tricky , if you’re only allowed one question . I think if I only had one question I would have gone for :-
“Tell me Sol , was it just the general and overwhelming stink of decay or was it Glen Hoddle’s appointment that made you leave Spurs ? “
That would of been a good question to ask tabs, but I wasn’t involved with the interview process with Sol so I didn’t have the time for in-depth questions, for anyone who’s interested his interview is going to be on ITV1 @ 6:30pm approx tonight.
My question for Sol:
“How did it feel being liberated from the clutches of knuckle-dragging, mutant marshmen, and delivered into the righteous land of eternal optimism where everything turned to silver?”
To which, being a footballer, he would’ve probably replied, “Good, innit?”
I assume that some of you have seen that phtograph from twitter (on Blogs today) of the Pat Rice farewell thingy?
Anyway, it just shows that even if you are paid a kings ransom, there is still no escaping the horrific jersey that your gran gives you for Christmas…….
Ah Grasshopper , I see I still have much to teach you . Should have muscled in 😉
Good question Dr Z , but , on the contrary , and given his slightly pseud tendencies , I think Sol would have replied with –
” I welcomed my liberation from the scum as a thirsty man drinks Beer. I lapped up every last vestige of it . The condition however, upon which freedom is given to man, is eternal vigilance . The opponents of freedom, (or Lilywhite cunts), as I like to call them , abuse and denounce and do not listen . So I went to Portsmouth. Now I am old and I wish to be an Actor . Can I play William Wallace ?”
😀
Evening all.
Nice piece ‘holic, got a bit of backdrinking to (had a quick butchers)
So my question to Sol.
How do you feel about being named after a mexican lager that looks and tastes like piss?
Zico 95, Heh
Tabs from previous drinks, double heh at Chelsea fan joke.
Yeah probably Zico, he’s a really cheerful guy 😀
Perfectly timed run…
Well in, H2H!
Heh H2H , and Sol’s answer to your question …
“Not Bitter”
http://pic.twitter.com/Rg18n5fR
Well in H2H.
Yep, never meant to self-assist for the Century, just wanted to get a nice post number, s’all 8)
Well in H2H, I think I shielded the ball well for your run 😉
Missed the century, bugger!
tabs @ 96, 😆 Why aren’t you a writer? Oh wait… 🙂
Better luck next time Harsha, mate.
*Gratefully and humbly accepts the plaudits*
Great pic, Wind! Well done mate!
Not everyday you get to meet a proper footballer like me or Sol.
Interesting-ish.
Just now stumbled on a programme on Canal+, think they’re talking about football finances.
The former PSG president (who is a friend of Arsène – I remember him being on the phone with him during the infamous Eurostar trip that made me miss the Man U game in 2008) casually mentions he was talking to Arsène the day before and that he told him that with his budget he couldn’t aim higher than 3rd or 4th. And basically confirmed what had appeared in that old interview a few months ago, that he could only spend £20m per season.
Well I guess it’s not really news…
Bevin, just sign the fecking contract and stop pulling our chain!
Perfectly timed at 100 indeed, H2H, good finish too.
@98
Who knew Sol’s full name was Corona?
Good work meeting Sol, Wind.
Lights are being hidden under bushels in this bar.
Great stuff TaBS, cheers.
What a snap, Wind. Well played that man. Pic with an invincible. Awesome.
Tabs/Lars.
While I don’t believe Lars’ theorey will be tested, I think failure to qualify for next seasons CL would only slightly impact our transfer targets. Lest we forget, we are the Arsenal and one of the biggest teams in the world, based in one of the trendiest city, playing in one of the best stadiums on the planet, most players would give anything to be a part of that.
Some however, will choose the bigger pay checks on offer. Last summer we were guarenteed to play in the qualification round of the CL, believe me, the other teams in the draw where a lot more scared of us then we were of them, yet we still lost targets to other teams, eg Juan Mata chose the petro cash at Chelski. Even when we beat Udinesse and were in the Group Stage we still lost Cesc, albeit to his boyhood club, and the Chinless git to the other oil fueled club. So by this logic, CL qualification is maybe not the be all and end all when it comes to transfers.
I have the feeling that we’ve been our own worst enemy in the transfer window over the past few seasons, we’ve dilly dallied and have been far too indecisive when it comes to getting in new blood, sometimes waiting too long in the hope of a better deal only to be left with nothing when the window slams shut, or like last summer come out with a handful of last gasp buys, that have to be thrown in at the deep end because the season is already in progress.
I’m not (totally) daft and I do realise that the aqusistion of a player is not like going shopping for a pair of jeans, however I do feel we would be better served by identifying our targets early, getting in, get what we want and get the fuck out again as quickly as possibe, bada boom, bada bing, done and dusted with plenty of time to bed the players in and prepare for the new campaign. Here’s hoping that our recent capture of Poldi is the new rule to how we do business and not the exception in the future.
The ability to generate comercial income however is an entirly different matter and would take a pretty big hit if we failed to qualify. Which we won’t!!!!!!!!!
Nice shot Wind (I missed it with all the excitement of getting the century, 😉 )
H2H: Commercial deals are often conditioned and increase in value if we qualify for the CL (because of more exposure for, say, a shirt sponsor) so as long as we only miss out on one year of CL football it does not have to mean too much in the long run. But that is of course a big whopping mo-fo of an “if”.
Oxon Gooner staggers into the bar mumbling something inaudible before collapsing on the floor. He is lifted by the in-house medical staff and propped on a bar stool as a pint of Landlord is placed before him.
Presently he comes round, drains his glass and becomes audible…
I was without Interweb access from Friday morning until Tuesday evening and have completed a kiloback-drink. Haven’t seen the Norwich match, and, knowing of A.Villa’s efforts on Sunday was much more relaxed reading Saturday’s posts that you all were when making them.
I was devastated to miss the Bertie punfest. Congratulations fellow barflies, truly a bullet dodged there.
Roll on Sunday.
CCMUED COYG
Handbrake off please barman!!!
Maybe that should have been “Handbrake off please brakeman?” In any case brakeman, please have a beer on me. And make sure all the Arsenal players know the handbrake is off!!!
Oxon, impressive work if you really back-drank everything from Friday 🙂
@ 117 Holloway2Holland on 10 May 2012 at 7:53pm
I agree with the first bit of your comment, but want to put the other side on transfers.
Clearly you are anything but daft, nevertheless your prescription of how we ought to operate in the transfer market does sound a bit like you think it’s like shopping for jeans. A player is not an object, not even a very desirable or expensive one, and as such, he has a say. The selling club is made up of human beings, who have their own agendas as well. A transfer works out when it’s right for all parties. The ability to get in quickly depends on having a financial or other edge over everyone else. We certainly don’t have a financial edge, the only advantages we have are intangibles like the name of our club, our style of play and the reputation of our manager.
I consider that the praise for getting the Podolski deal done *early* is as inappropriate as the criticism for dilly-dallying. We started trying to sign Podolski a year ago. We tried last summer and last January, but we’ve got him now because it suits Poldi and his club are prepared to let him go. We’re constantly scouting and making inquiries, but the right players aren’t necessarily available at the times we need them. Money smooths some difficulties, but not all, and we still don’t have the resources to sign a player with no regard to value for money. Should we have caved in to Bolton and signed Cahill for £18m, just to have a CB in place? I would say no. And even with unlimited resources, Man City could not control the timing of the transfer of Samir Nasri, because AW didn’t want to let him go. Clubs hold on to players who are on their for sale list until the last minute to drive up the price, or tout to other clubs the players in whom we have shown an interest (or in whom we are rumoured to be interested).
Basically this is very long-winded way of saying I think you’re being a bit unfair. (I am lining up your tipple of choice as I speak…)
H2H @ 117
The problem with this “bada boom, bada bing” approach is that the objectives of the club and the player are mutually exclusive:
The club want to do things quickly and on the quiet to deter other clubs scuppering the deal
The player (and/or their agent) want to take their time and make as much noise as possible to see what other options they can flush out before making a decision.
So it may not be fair to blame the club for dilly dallying. We tried really hard to sit down and discuss a deal with the lesbian long before the summer. She decided to string the club along ultimately to get more money than Arsenal were prepared to shell out.
Qualifying for the CL as opposed to not, removes one of the sticks that the player and/or agent can beat us with.
Bloody mary for you on the bar anyway.
Seems FunGunner and I agree.
Sort of.
(I think).
119 Lars.
It is indeed a big mofoing if, a super duper mofo of an if . In fact, if you got a moment, it’s a fifty-story if with a magnificent entrance hall, carpeting throughout, 24-hour portage, and an enormous flashing neon sign on the roof, saying “This is a big whopping mo-fo of an if”. 😎
No ifs and no butts.
Cheers Holic , my pleasure .
H2H , I see where you’re coming from, I really do , but given that we generally concur on most things Arsenal , I hope you don’t mind if I respectfully disagree –
1.The Bottom Line.
Arsenal , by their very nature (certainly since the Thirties), are a conservative (small c) Club . Only very rarely have we pushed the boat out to “speculate to accumulate”. As Ollie points out Arsene is already on record as saying he only has approx £20mill to spend . Where would failure to qualify , and thus the denial of guaranteed Champs League income of approx £20-25 mill leave the transfer budget ?
2. Commercial Income.
As you yourself have recognised , failure to qualify just as our commercial contracts are coming up for renewal will seriously impact on our strength at the negotiating table .
3. The Cap’n.
Much as he might love the Club , he is not ultimately a fan . He is a professional player looking to maximise his value as he enters the last major contract of his career . I have no way of knowing what he might be thinking , but I would be amazed if he signed on without the window to his talent which Champs League football offers .
4. Arsene Wenger .
Notwithstanding what the naysayers and detractors might say , AW has been incredibly loyal in continuing to weave his magic at Arsenal even though he was operating with one hand, perhaps two hands , tied behind his back . Having successfully steered us through such choppy financial waters and kept us competitive on a net budget of £0 , is he likely to want to do it all again if the promised land of greater monies to spend is suddenly snatched away just as it appears on the horizon ?
5. Brand .
I accept what you say in terms of our worldwide appeal both in terms of our History and our location . However it hasn’t stopped Liverpool , albeit with the help of a spendthrift manager , sliding into mediocrity . Their brand , if not their location , has arguably greater appeal worldwide.
6. Transfers .
I guess none of us will ever truly know what went on last summer , but I’m sure that uncertainty as to our Champs League status played a major part . I can only see more of the same , should we fail to secure third on Sunday .
Big big game on Sunday me old son . I’ll stop now – I’m scaring myself !!
Heh@H2H@127!
VAL……EEEEE……UMMMMM
Good posts Sir H2H and FG
Agree with parts of both. Only thing I´d point out is the myth that we ALWAYS leave things to the last minute.
From recollection we have annnounced RVP, Sagna, Kos, Eduardo, Fliiper and Chamakh all fairly early in the summer – late Spring. I´m sure there are others.
I´ll drink with the both of you. But not Sol. Or Corona.
@ 132 Catalan Gunner
“Only thing I´d point out is the myth that we ALWAYS leave things to the last minute.”
True – I forgot to mention that. Angostura bitters and tonic for me, thanks.
Thanks for the replies (and drinks) gents, I’ll get back to you on them in a bit, been called out for a second.
I’ll be back. 😎
DRINK! ARSE! FECK! GIRLS!
My work here is done.
Be back in the morn.
Toby,
You have potential – the Feelgood Foundation will be keeping a look out for you. 🙂
We´re all on Twitter, recruiting. Let´s y¡try not to scare her off.
I could do with some help in The Quackery.. Mr T just sits around all day making up puns, and DanC is stuck in front of the mirror admiring his tweeds…
Is The Feelgood Foundation still going ? 😉
Will Nurse Abb be ok with another nurse though Doc ?
Thanks for keeping me from the valllleeeumm for 5 minutes on twatter fellas.
It really is the most frustrating medium for us who type at one character per minute though…..
@ 138 – The Feelgood Foundation is not just for Christmas…. 😉
“Hi Pat, I am very sad to see you go. Every morning I will miss that 10 minutes before training starts when you come into the dressing room and shout at us! I enjoyed working with you for all the time I have been here and the whole team will miss you. Thank you, and all the best.”
Tomas Rosicky
From the tributes on the official site. Made me chuckle.
@139
She does seem a charming lady. I´m sure that Nurse Abb and (potential) Nurse Bubbles will get on just fine. Don´t girls always??
What? oh..
Thanks for the other side of the discussion gents, I agree with you completly, I just said “I’d like to see us…………..” ofcourse I know in the real world it’s not as easy as Bada boom.
However, it’s not impossible, Man UTd (spits dirty taste out of mouth) proved this last season by getting in all their new signings almost as soon as the window opened. I realise we are not them, but I do think it’s something we should aspire to.
Tabs, no problem with disagreeing my friend, we can’t always be on the same page, in fact respectful differings of opinions is the lifeblood of this fine blog, and to that effect I, most respectfully, disagree with one of your points about AW.
I agree he’s done a sterling job in difficult times on a controlled budget, but lets not forget we have one of the highest wage bills in the PL, so it’s not exactly like he’s been polishing terds into diamonds.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the man and don’t believe that anyone could have done a better job then he has, but in reality his limited budget isn’t really that limited.
Anyway, will have the whole summer to ponder our transfer workings etc, right now it’s eye on the prize time.
3points on Sunday, nothing else matters.
Barkeep a round of your best plonk for all these top shelf gooners.
Agreed Dr Z , I felt like I was in that Two Ronnies sketch where you give the answer to the question that went before
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6Si7_e-934
Like zico, I would also like to thank those involved for taking my mind off Sunday for a while.
Now off to bed, a round of drinks are on the bar for anyone who is still awake and not lying in a corner nervously repeating “wehavetowinonsundaywehavetowinonsundaywehavetowinonsunday”…
Bevin @ 109/110, Ollie @ 115 & Holic @ 116, haha & thank you one and all, I have to admit, as his 6’2 self came striding through the door, I was nervous to the point of silence but my mate who was part of the interview introduced us (me and another Gooner mate) by name and the rest was History. (And Twitter. And Facebook. And Blackberry Messenger :P)
Again, what a guy Sol is, it was like he stepped out of the past and the TV, without the kit of course 🙂
@ H2H
…ofcourse I know in the real world it’s not as easy as Bada boom.However, it’s not impossible, Man UTd (spits dirty taste out of mouth) proved this last season by getting in all their new signings almost as soon as the window opened. I realise we are not them, but I do think it’s something we should aspire to.
I agree it’s not impossible – we manage it sometimes – eg signings of Kos, Pod, Gerv…my point was that we can’t control the process, so however much we would like to get everything done by the end of the first week, we’re in other people’s hands as to whether that actually happens.
And I would also point out that ManUre were lucky in that Phil Jones chose them over us – the fee we offered the club was accepted, but if the player had chosen differently it could have been ManUre trying to find a CB all summer, not us. And they didn’t get *all* their signings done early. Arguably their most important position was the one they failed to fill. Remember they were after Nasri as well, but couldn’t compete with Money City. They tried to get Schneijder and couldn’t afford him/his wages. So they got Scholes out of the attic and scrubbed off the mouldy bits.
Hope you’re enjoying the bloody marys, by the way. I’m working so have to stick to non-alcoholic drinks.
Goodnight all … early to bed is called for!
147 FG Good points.
===
I’m working and thats why I’m on alcoholic drinks. 😉
@ H2H
ha ha! Well, anything that gets you through!
Good night.
H2H @143 Fair enough Sir – A very good point you make in respect of the wage bill , though I would argue that that wage bill came , at least in part , from the necessity of making sure he kept the young ‘uns at a time when he didn’t have the money to buy more established players .
A glass of plonk right back at yer .
Just back-drinking quietly thank you very much –
This is a true story from my friend who runs British Airways here in Jamaica. I dedicated it to my boy Hurricane:
After arriving in Jamaica for the second time in a week – after being refused entry to the UK, US and France. The Airline has run out of options when a man is again refused entry into Jamaica! Tired and bedraggled after days of travel the poor man says that all he wants to do is return to Nigeria, but he has no papers, no money and no one can confirm his nationality. The Jamaican customs authority is suspicious and don’t want to be stuck with him in Jamaica. So the Nigerian High Commissioner is summoned but as soon as he enters the room he exclaims: ‘This is a Nigerian – even the nose!’
Case solved!
Fantastic tributes to Pat Rice…
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/gunners-unite-to-pay-tribute-to-pat-rice
Great post – if scary – from zico, miles back.
FunGunner, H2H – found myself agreeing with much of your ‘transfer market’ posts, but then a rather marvellous pice from the Tabsmeister just wrapped it all up.
Drinks all round fellas.
Now, enough already with the ‘respectful disagreeing’ – it’s Feisty F*cking Friday !
Fuck off Trev.
Cheers Trev , how are you ? Bearing up in the face of all this pre sunday tension ?
Glad you liked my piece in The Daily Star, Mr Geuli.
Rather a pity they put me on the back page. Personally, I prefer to be amongst the tits.
Anyway, I can assure you van Persie is going nowhere.
I had wholly inconclusive discussions with his two agents earlier today, and it was all double dutch to me, so I have sent the two gentlemen, Herrs van Hire and van Doors, packing. Just in case.
Ha ! 🙂
Tense Tabs, very tense.
Luckily, I suppose, extremely busy, despite what Mr C thinks, so not too much time to dwell.
Couple of pints tomorrow lunch-time should see me out ’til Monday afternoon 😉
Heh you know it makes sense .
The pints that is , not the busyness 😉
That’s the spirit, Trev. Nurse Bubbles, bring your gal pals, please. I’ve picked out some lovely Edwardian era uniforms that will cover the lot of of you nearly head to toe. Cat fight, anyone. Seriously though, we are taking applications at the Quackery ATC. The situation is dire. Fans wondering which Arsenal will show up on Sunday. Will we have enough pace. Short vs long passes…which way to go. Pundits going absolutely bananas, their love-hate relationship with our club at a fever pitch. Oh, what a glorious time to be a gooner!
Thank God there’s another Nurse in the House .
I’m having to scurry hither and thither , and my Jimmy Choos just aren’t made for all this pacing up and down .
I’ll think I’ll take myself off for a nice relaxing Cinzano Bianco , whilst you take the strain Nurse Abb .
Wolfie, I’m dying here. Thank heavens for the Feelgood Foundation. And Victoria Secrets.
“We” are taking applications at The Quackery.
“We” are getting a little ahead of ourselves, Nurse Abb.
If there is any recruiting to be done, it is essential that Mr C and myself have first AND final say on the applicants.
And I can save you the bother of preparing uniforms that cover anybody from head to toe. What the hell do you think we do this job for, if not the pleasure of seeing little bottoms straining under impossibly short skirts.
Now, I have some important puns to work on if you don’t mind ?
By the way, can you think of another word for Thesaurus ?
Dr T, Well excuse me. And to think I was going to instruct the newbies not to wake up doctors on call with their silly questions. Another word for Thesaurus…what kinda daft quiery is that!
Well it’s Goodnight from me. Hold the fort Abb, there’s a good girl.
Has anybody seen Mr C ?
Last I heard he was on his way to bed singing “I’m forever blowing Bubbles” ?!?
Pat, after serving Command together for all these years and receiving endless bollockings from you whenever I fucked up a mission or failed to follow orders, I can safely say you will be missed by me and my crew of misfits. The best number 2 I’ve ever worked with.
You never minced words with us and contrary to what passes for accepted knowledge you were never a “yes-man” unless it was in response to “More Guinness ya bastard?”
The thing that will stand out the most in my mind is the fact that you’ve experienced more Arsenal Doubles than anyone else connected with The Arsenal.
Keep up the good fight you wiley old fox and watch out for those knuckle-dragging LWCs.
Pax vobiscum
P.S. What ever happened to those Belfast chubbies Pat?
Haha, don’t want to jinx it, but pretty sure we will be celebrating our favourite saint’s day. Really enjoy reading your work, would like to see what you have to say about Bouldy replacing Rice. Btw have written my own Rice tribute, would like to know what you think.
http://goonerpanther.wordpress.com/2012/05/11/thank-you-farewell-and-god-bless-you-pat/
Cheeky Wenger admits to desire to poison the entire Sp*rs squad. It is about time. 🙂
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/9258908/Arsenal-and-Spurs-battle-over-Premier-League-third-place-brings-back-memories-of-Lasagna-gate.html?
‘Ello, ‘ello, ‘ello…
Not around long enough to back drink at the mo so apologies if this has already been posted or talked about elsewhere – if it hasn’t you might find it an interesting read…
http://gu.com/p/37f6m
Pat Rice tribute page on .con is fantastic!
44 years is such a long time. Thank you Pat
Oh, and – errrrr…roll on Sunday…
Up The Arse!
“…..pretty Bubbles in the air….”
Multiple hehs @ quasi doctors patronizing virtual nurses.
“Thank god for the Feelgood Foundation.”
Indeed.
Panther @170
Nice article,thanks. Especially your point about the BBBs perhaps forcing Rice to back AW. Interesting.
Lester, I’ve always thought there was something not quite right about that Bebe deal. Seems the Portugese police is of the same opinion.
Now, where’s that five-gallon bucket of valium again…
Some interesting rules regarding St Totts and CL-qualification:
We can lose with the odd goal and still get to celebrate St Totts even if the Totts themselves draw. At least if they don’t score as many goals on the day as we do +6.
If we lose with the odd goal and they draw with as many goals as we scored +7 we actually end up both being third in the league. Those are the rules of the PL.
Having that said, since place 1-4 are important for sorting out qualifications, finding an order between 3rd and 4th is important. So we would have to play one play-off game against them on a neutral venue.
Of course we have to add Newcastle into the mix as well.
But, I think my point is this:
There is yet hope we might get to beat Spurs at Wembley this season!
Goonerpanther@170.
Interesting piece. Personally, I would have found it even more interesting if the piece had been a little truer to its title – more about what a great servant of the Arsenal Pat had been, and less about how everything he does and did supports your own views about what was and is needed.
But that’s only me, and I don’t have a blog to fill.
Sigh, off to work.
And a very happy FFF to you all.
CCMUED COYG
Toby, really? I would have thought that in case of all else being tied it would have been the two games between the teams in question that would decide and then we would have the edge. But if you have read the rules then I’ll trust that of course.
I was as surprised as you are Lars! That’s why I called it “interesting rules.” I really thought that as well. But:
Points -> Goal difference -> Goals scored -> Single play-off game if tie is for championship, relegation or qualification.
So, if we lose 1-0, the Totts draw 7-7 we will get our cup final!
Heh, and oh, I wonder how they would do it if three teams wound up on the same points, goal difference, goals scored… triangular pitch?
Kos interview. Good read.
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/koscielny-we-put-the-house-back-in-order?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+arsenal-news+%28News+Feed%29
Nerves tingling, but the match isn’t on cable here. Will have to go stream hunting. I hate watching The Arsenal on the pixelated little window.
COYG
The cunt at Le Moan has excelled himself today. Posted an Arsene tribute to Pat as if it was Bould he was talking about, and really spiteful towards Pat, an Arsenal legend. Retarded cunt has gone too far this time.
Cheers for the link Slash. That was indeed a very good interview
Hopefully next time he ventures into The Tollie he is given slightly more forceful persuasion to leave…..
Oldgooner and CG, I was so close at copy-pasting some of the things being said there but in the last second I decided against it. Don’t want to taint this here establishment with filth like that.
I recommend that everyone does the opposite of what I did though. Don’t have a look, you’ll only get mad and clock up their statistics.
Just made it worse for myself, went on the read the comments… I’m fuming now.
@Harsha: My pleasure
@Toby: Screw Le groan and Myles Palmer and Arsenal Truth, and all such ignorant, shit stirring bastards. They only care for the hit count and if anyone of them could differentiate his arse from his face i’ll be damned.
@Slash
I know. It’s just… a few times a year I sneak in there without really knowing why. Perhaps I like being riled by idiots as to make myself feel better for not being one of them. Perhaps I believe that they have changed. Perhaps I just need to know and understand the threat that that side of the club and those supporters are. The people that actually want us to sell out to an improper owner, to hope for him to pour blood money into the club and not stop doing that at an inopportune moment for the club.
I wouldn’t like to gamble with the club in that way economically, but for me there is also another side to it. I’m not a big fan of the mega rich. I don’t like it that we have a world that allows for those to exist. I don’t know if we could stop it, I don’t know if it is a good idea, but I know I don’t like it.
I know that “rich” and “poor” means something only when you compare them. I do know that if you doubled the fortunes of every person on this earth, the only thing that would change is that the prices of everything should be double. There isn’t an endless supply of money, if so, money wouldn’t mean anything. That means that for one person to be filthy rich is for others to be filthy poor.
The only reason for Usmanov to have 18.1 billion dollars is because other people don’t have them. You think the working conditions that Metalloinvest allows Gazprom workers are good enough?
People have been mistreated and probably died for Usmanov to have his 18.1 billion dollars and I do not want those money going to overpaid mercenaries wearing the Arsenal shirt. I don’t want us even being near that money. I want him out of the club. Now I do not think that Kroenke is a saint, and much of the same applies to him, but in my (perhaps narrow minded) universe Usmanov is the greatest villain here and I’ll start taking a stand against him.
Now, call me a communist all you like, I don’t consider myself that far out on the scale at all, far from it, but the money going into the pockets of the people on the top 100 rich list are insane and I don’t think the world is better for it. There has to be boundaries on what is acceptable.
I do not want our club to be part of the connection that funnels funds out from Russian workers backs and to the pockets of the Nasris of this world. I’d rather us play in League 2. And I really mean that.
Our club is funded on principles and taking care of people and that has to stretch further than the pitch and the borough.
Fuck off Le Groan.
@Toby Brilliant rant. Hope you are feeling better typing that.
And yeah i do not see any reason that we sold to Kroenke, if there was going to be a status quo on the policies of the club. All it has done is accumulate power in one hand which was diversified before.
I have now received an official e-mail from US folks asking me if I’d liked to work for them in a job that would be much more like the old one, as they now have been granted clearance to open these jobs.
I know that technically I’m still only 3 days into the new job, but again, too late. It’s a waste but in my mind I have moved on.
Bonjour.
Abb, uniforms that will cover from head to toe? Victoria’s Secret? Sounds more like Victorian Secret.
===
Fuck that so called other fan site and all that sail in it. Don’t read it, don’t visit it and certainly don’t link to it. Getting hits is what keeps them alive, the more hits they get the better for them which is pretty ironic because the more I could hit them (for real) the better I’d feel.
But, misery loves company, so let all the sad bastards revel in their own despair in their stinky corner of the net… Fuck ’em.
Can I vote for you H2H?
Nothing to do with us, but I thought it was pretty funny that Woves in an attempt to freshen up their management stall have appointed a stale dude;
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18030227
Heh, Ollie.
I couldn’t even run for a bus, but thanx all the same.
Heads to the box looking for a one-two………..
In sunglasses and waders, he returns to H2H
http://youtu.be/kZrcs-APRvg
Sorry, couldn’t help stealing that.
Thanks Dr F, but I’d sneeked off for a ciggie behind the corner flag.
Well in Toby.
Lovely century, Toby
Show us the way, Toby! By the way, are you the one who took all the valium?
A new challenge has arisen as Mark Lawrenson has picked us to win this weekend. As if we didn’t have enough to contend with already.
Re: Ollie @193. More like the old job in giving you time off to attend Arsenal? I’m not so sure about that part. Unless you love frequent transatlantic flights, that is. It is a bit more likely the time difference would give you chances to sneak off to the local pub for Champions League games on weekday afternoons. All a moot point anyway, I see in your second paragraph. Cheers on the new job!
Sure did, Mr 8 Ball.
Had I not, my rant about Usmanov (see above) would still be ongoing and I never would have scored. As it is now, I’m quite relaxed about that Bloodsucking Fuckface. As you can see.
And yes, I saw that about Mark. This poses a problem. I have no idea how to solve it. Not that I care that much, I’ve got Diazepam, right?
Anyway.
This is quite a nice picture. A few smiling legends in wonderful red (and well, the rest of the colors):
http://bit.ly/JF0KDy
Mark Lawrenson is a toad.
The end.
A toad?
When did he get promoted?
Heh 8)
A very nice rant indeed Toby , and excellent drink for the century .
AL – nice link , the vultures are circling . A very strange transfer indeed.
Various Hehs above – Feelgood, H2H, 8Ball, Ollie.
So Le Groan chooses the day a Club Legend announces his retirement after 44 years of sterling service , to take a cheap pop. Apparently Pat was “stale” and “demotivated” . You really couldn’t make it up. Are there no depths to which that Site won’t stoop ?
Write a decent Blog ? Pete Wood , if he could , but he can’t .
Whoops !
On the good news front today, I have got, at last, news for my car.
And I should hopefully get it some time next week (gonna cost me a bit indeed, but it’s not the whole gearbox to change thankfully).
Np,bt8, I would be working under US management, but still in my current location.
Np means ‘No’.
Nursie Tabs @210
Is this Pete guy the dead Wood that we need to get rid of?
Np means ‘no’. In this new language you’ve invented Ollie, what is the word for ‘yes’? Happy FFF folks.
Nurse.
Meet me outside – I want you to steal me some valium. 😀
Hey Zico. Please tell Ollie, I’m happy about his car and his new job. And then let’s go doc shopping (very poular in Florida).
At the rate your popping Valium Z you’ll be to spaced to watch the match on sunday..
Garsguns – and your point is … ? 😎
H2H heh 🙂 Absofuckinlutely !
Panther @170
Cheers for the article , but my question to you is “Are you a Pink Panther ?” 😎
Dr Feelgood only goes shopping for Doc Martens.
Unless the Doc just happens to be female…..
@ garsguns – how will you (or I) be able to tell the difference? 😉
Heh tabs I always need an oul calmer with me beer before during and after watching the gunners,but the man is on Valium bender all week no pun intended Z.
And so here we are.
On the eve of the eve of the most important 90 minutes since the last most important 90 minutes……
One game.
We used to put a string of wins together with the same frequency that Dr Feelgood embarks on losing streaks to his unscrupulous turf accountant. Arsenal – WWWWWW used to be a regular sight in the Saturday Form Guide. And yet, now, here we find ourselves fretting over lifting a poxy three points from the outpost which is still haunted by the combined ghosts of Almunia and Squillaci, tangoing like a pair of latin fandangoes in the 18 yard box.
One game, one win required.
What’s the game plan?
Simple really – outscore them. We almost certainly don’t want to try and out-defend them (is that even a word?). Our goals against shows that that way lies madness. Tell that Dutch fella that it’s time to score when WE want, not just when he feels inclined to do so. Explain to Mr Rosicky that, when within sight of the opposition goalkeeper, it is NOT a capital crime to have a shot. Tell Dimitri Song Billong that every pass does not need to remind him (and us) of Zidane, and for fuck’s sake, tell him to fill in when Thomas has visions of his family being murdered in the opposition half and races off to Verminate the offenders.
One game.
Against a team keen to send off Woy in the right fashion. But do we not owe Pat Rice the same? (Those players certainly do after the fashion crimes perpetrated at his farewell party). And those travelling fans. They still deserve payback for Old Trafford this season, I can still feel their pain even now, that abject performance cannot be quickly forgotten. And yet in one game, we can make it so.
One game.
So what is the game plan?
Easy.
Valium today, valium tomorrow and death by Guinness on Sunday.
Nervous? Who, me?
Superb, zico! 🙂
What Ollie said.
zico, well said. It’s one game – no more room for mistakes now.
Brilliant Dr Z .
Apparently Sir Chez is a doubt for Sunday .
Still spurning the valium Garsguns ? 😎
Where the fuck has all the Valium gone???
NURSE!!!
Szczesny a doubt? NUUUUURSE! WE NEED MORE VALIUM!!!
Got a bad feeling about this one folks.. Lightning does not strike twice in 6 years, Ive heard.
Shez ffs!where’s that cabinet.
Lightning strikes all the time, it’s about the only thing lightning can do.
Fuck the Baggies, come on you gunners.
The pundits have been saying for a month that we’ll get third. Even after last weekend they seem to assume we’ll bit West Brom. Weirdly.
I do not like that.
Not that it matters.
I think a brainwash is in order though, so that the players can get back the spirit of a couple of months ago.
Toby, CG, SlaSh, oldgooner et al., I have a slightly different view about the misanthropes in those other sites. I have visited them once or twice — the repeat visits were more out of scientific curiosity about a newly discovered planet and less because of any perverse desire for self-mortification — and even though I agree with not a single thing they say or laugh at any of their attempt at humor, I oddly think they still serve a purpose.
Every evolved organism has an excretory system, including society at large as well as complex institutions operating in the society. The excess material that cannot be assimilated has a subversive energy that needs to be expunged to preserve the balance. And you need an outlet for that process.
Also, purely from a medical-scientific perspective, the material composition of excrement provides a good indication to the well being of the organism. If there is too much blood or bile in it, we need to go consult the physician.
The phrase ‘necessary evil’ is much bandied about, but such a thing does exist.
Dr F
By Jove you´re a clever chap.
Carry on….
Ha ! Brilliant Dr Faustus 🙂
heh, Dr F. Clever indeed.
Dr. Z @224, You have just about captured it.
Toby @191. Excellent ranting! 🙂
@ 236
Why thank you.
I’m here all week…….
So glad we have a doctor/philosopher in our midst.
Now, what I dread is really that a few of the players would wonder over to that… ‘necessary evil’ and actually believe that is how we feel. Not that they couldn’t cope with it, boy do they have mental strength! But still.
Which also asks the question – how many players or ex-arsenal players have been reading ‘holic? The last couple of years some of the good ‘uns when it comes to Arsenal-blogging have been named by official Arsenal channels, been quoted in the papers and many have also met quite a few of the players. And if you think you can keep the younger players away from reading what people say about them after a game… Just as I believe several journalists are reading this blog and perhaps even scanning the drinks, I’m sure a few footballers have as well. And it wouldn’t surprise me if one of the regulars was Amy Lawrence in disguise.
Anyone, if any person that is going to don the kit this saturday IS reading this – just win, please?
“Anyone” is s’posed to be “Anyhow.”
And cheers Mr 8 Ball. I’m really thinking about sorting out all my thoughts on that subject (in regards to Arsenal and the footballing world in general) and try to get it on some proper footballing blog as a guest post because I’m fucking fed up with the way people are actually screaming for clubs to spend ridiculous amounts of real money on bastards blessed with some football skills, and be totally ignorant about where the money comes from.
For me being self sustaining is also a way to lessen the impact of money going from people who haven’t earned the money in the first place to people who don’t deserve it in the second. “Yes” I can hear you say, “but wouldn’t that mean that WE have to pay for everything with our salaries instead?” Why, yes it would. And proudly. Do not scream for huge sums from investors. That isn’t pretend money even if the sums sound surreal. It is real money that could be used for other things than inflating the footballing bubble even more and making agents rich.
I can not for the life of me understand how Abramovich is laughed at in the papers when he throws money on his pet club. I cannot understand how they see him as erratic and funny. They shouldn’t be writing footballing articles about him, the should be writing financial articles about him and do some proper digging. And the people taking his money as wages, full well understanding where it comes from, should be ashamed.
Fuck it. I’m fed up. Missing out on Champions League? I’d miss out on it ten times in a row to not be owned by Abramovich. My worst fear isn’t waking up and hearing that RvP have signed for Barcelona. My worst fear is waking up and reading that we are about to sell our shares to somebody who have blood on his hands. I’ll support the Arsenal through the leagues, I could not bring myself to watching the games, us having players on the field, payed for by someone like Roman.
Never forget that people like him, and don’t get me started on Manchester City and their owners, are affecting real peoples life, controlling waste corporations and running dictatorships. This is real. Nothing is made up. This is where the money comes from.
Just never let Arsenal end up in the hands of someone like that. Please.
This is all so wrong.
The Baggies away should be one of the last fixtures that gets me worried but I’m a jittery wreck.
The only comfort is the fact that we can win this if we play a high intensity attacking game. Basically, if the lads don’t pin those jailbirds down in their own box and give their goal a bombardment to equal the siege of Stalingrad, they just don’t deserve third.
Mr C, tabs & Ollie — thanks. 🙂
Toby, I have no idea about the internet habit of the players. I guess they will be as diverse as the players in character are, and as diverse as any cross-section of population.
However, I think Arsene — and again I could be wrong, but I recall this reading a few times — encourage them not to over-analyze or obsess about media comments. I think his management strategy revolves strongly in identifying natural intelligence — Koscielny’s latest interview, for instance, highlights his measured and intelligent approach — in players and encourage that. RVP mentioned this a few time how Arsene would present him with a set of challenges and ask him to work them out. So I think the overall ‘education’ provided by Arsenal as a club teaches them to be discerning about what comments to take seriously and what not to.
Also, when you play a sport professionally, and you have your own team target and personal targets, and you are playing once or more than once a week and intense training sessions in between, and then squeeze in what personal and family/social time you can, I think you would rather tend to avoid reading too much, and definitely things that are negative and vicious, about your day job.
Toby, You are one tough act to follow, well done. Zico @ 224, You’ve done it again. Hi holics, would someone tell me what’s up with Woj…I don’t follow twitter. This sounds ominous.
Excellent post Dr Z 🙂
I am totally with you on the outscore them philosophy
Abb, Woj is a doubt for Sunday with some kind of shoulder/back injury
Afternoon you wonderful lot. Would normally give old a yellow card for that, but …
Dr Faustus, reckon you nailed it.
Now, halfway down first pint. How many will we have before penning the preview? Which way will it go? Getting just a tad nervous now.
Harsha, my spirits are plummeting with this news.
Get in! Scores a beautiful bullseye. Whoops, wrong sport…
My ‘spirits’ are too 😉
Dr Faustus, I am sure you are right in what you are saying and time after time we are told that by the club and by the players – that there is no point in reading about themselves. But we’ve always seen a few cracks in that facade, especially in interviews with younger players, most often after coming out of a slump saying “see it wasn’t as bad as everyone wrote!” etc. I’m quite that the modern youth player that plays his first game for the first team will read every whatever he can get his web browser on.
But perhaps that tells you lot more about me than about the modern youth player.
Right, that’s the half century sorted.
Gentlemen – to the tavern!
Best of luck holics….with getting to kickoff still in possession of a full set of fingernails.
UTA until August!
Has anyone seen Dr Faustus AND Dr Feelgood in the same room?
No, thought not.
Am I the only one to see the similarity and intelligence in their respective postings?
Remember, you heard it here first, there is only one Dr F. 8)
Drugs. Drink. Girls. Football. Trains.
Fuck, yeah. 8)
If there is only one he is a time traveller…
Hey Holic, Since most of us have to watch the game on a stream or player, we can’t even cheer the lads on at the bar during the game ! Spurs game televised, though.
Haven’t you heard, “he’s all over the place……” ?
Strange decision that nurse. Always fancied living somewhere that you had to watch a game in the morning at the pub though 😉
Unlike BtM, who is all over the plaice…
zico and Goonerholic, ha ha! 🙂
Goonerholic, thanks for your gracious comments. And if I may, thanks for running this establishment. The best Arsenal fan site bar none.
Toby@252, I am not at all saying that the players are impervious to the knee-jerk and negative comments. After all, they have friends and families and lovers (hope not too many of them at the same time if only for the sake of their on-field focus 🙂 ) and doting mothers and perennial indigent aunts, or vice versa. In other words, they are as fallible as all of us. But I think — or may be I like to believe — that Arsenal as a club encourages an intelligent attitude towards the media chaos. I don’t think it is accidental that most Arsene groomed players are actually rather articulate and measured in their interviews.
Anyway, if any of you players are reading this site, we all love you your red and white no matter what happens this Sunday. Stay free yet committed, relaxed yet focused, and the world will take care of your business this weekend. 🙂
Dr Faustus – I just do wish that the club would groom some more of its fans in the same way…
Typed too fast, and typos are what I get…
‘perennially indignant’ and not ‘perennial indigent’ … darn!
And ‘we all love you “in” your red and white…’ …
Time for me to stop imbibing and get out in the world.
Two more days, phew…
Game on Sunday? Did that last requisition of valium take this into account? It could be time for a special emergency order to cover the last 24 hours when those who haven’t checked the fixture list realize how tedious late Saturday afternoon and evening are going to be.
Re: Camberwell @243: You predict a bombardment to equal the siege of Stalingrad? If you are correct at least it should be quite a watchable game. I hope the travelling Gooners will be providing sound and light effects. 😉
Evening All,
Happy Feisty F*cking Friday!
Brilliant call to arms zico – again.
DrFaustus – well played,sir.
H2H – thank you for enlightning us 😉
‘Holic – you can’t be trying to kick off another fishy punfest, surely?
It’ll be a mackeral if you get another one going, so I’m skating over that for now 😉
Once announced I was feeling feisty in New York, and was told to “go and get a drink then” . . .
Le Grove = TalkSport Radio minus intelligence, balance and considered thought.
It’s not for me to tell people what to read, but on the basis of my single visit there and the repeated indignation of regular visitors, I would say, it’s purile tripe – ignore it. Why give them the satisfaction of the hits, just to cause yourself pointless irritation.
Laters Gooners . . .
Heh Trev,
puntastic 🙂
Those Dr Fs confuse me.
One of them are just in one of your heads, Andys.
Well the day of Reckoning has arrived FOD.. Woy is on a roll and will RVP carry the team again, meanwhile the lovely LWChamps look at another competitive chance to end the horror of St. T.. PS Went to the Arse Tott game with two good gooner friends. Free tea and beer don’t you know. Was loving it for 26 minutes then it all went horribly wrong, Rosie’s boss man thought he was the new champaign Harry and lost his marbles, thankfully our your friends at the FA have sorted out his upstairs downs stairs fiasco. He is deffo down stairs.
May Sunday role round and the RVP tea set collapse
Muppet alert.
About as intelligent as you can expect from something that far down the food chain, I guess.
It did not go horribly wrong tigger – what you saw was the planets moving back into their normal alignment, with you lilwhitecunts cast back in our shadow.
51 years, and never again.
Now run off and play tig with the trains.
Message not for you, Scally Wag, your not as smart as you think, but then again, if I play fair you all through your toys out of the pram and shout Holic, we don’t like it it’s not fair Nasty horrid spud, making fun of us.. If only you had waited for the planets to align, this seaso has pretty well gone as I predicted, with only the Chavs playing a wild card.
I predict two wins this weekend .. You can’t AFFORD to lose and we have to WIN
BEST SEASON IN THE PREM EVER
If I had toys, I doubt I would “through” them anywhere……
Still, must be hard to type with webbing between your fingers.
“Best season in the prem ever”
Yip, for a small club like yours, this is probably as good as it is liable to get.
Goodbye.
Barkeep – some disinfectant might be in order.
Barazite comes on for Monaco.
There was a time when I thought he might make it with us.
I didn’t expect Andy Goram to be watching French 2nd division football, but I can confirm what he just said.
Heh, you two 🙂
Take a deep breath, the atmosphere got a bit ripe in here for a bit, but I think it might be safe, albeit you might need one of the Professor’s bio-suits.
Me too Andy, errr Ollie
The usual bowl for Cusop, errr Trig
4 me I like to watch all footie I can get my eyes on because you can never learn enough and you have to keep both ur feet grounded but I must say dat dis Barazite will make it good enuff! He is a good player! But it also leaves da door open 4 me in the summer dat he is not still at ARsnl!
Ligue 2 stuff all got decided tonight then. They can all have a party next friday.
heh Bevin.
Me and myself, being a Swede, is watching the ice-hockey. Russia – Sweden. Just like watching the Arsenal. Hideous referees, russian should have had a players sent of for the rest of the game for spearing (that is exactly what it sounds like, using a stick) but nothing given. Sweden are now losing 4-3 and just 20 minutes ago we were up 1-3.
I just can’t stand referees at the moment.
Sorry, got that wrong, was too distracted by following the lead that our Polie Goalie is out. Sweden are of course down to 5-3 after winning the game 1-3.
6-3 to Russia now. I really should stick to football. Arsenal would never surrender a lead…
7-3 from 1-3. This is worse than the Newcastle 4-4 game. Not regarding how much I care, but in objective terms.
So Rober Pires’ first club go up, while the club that revealed him to the world go down to the 3rd tier of French football for the first time in their history.
On the week when one of their former stars Jules Bocandé died.
Always had a soft spot for Metz (and my dad was born there), it’s a sad day.
It’s a long long way from that mythical 4-1 win at Camp Nou.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBY59ghoTgU
(Bocandé is number 9 there)
Spearing – adjective – hockey, the act of using a stick on an opponent…..
Spearing – adjective – football, the act of being an ugly Scouse cunt….
Zico, you are a wise man indeed. Sadly, Spearing apparently isn’t punished in football nor hockey.
And well put Ollie. I really enjoy little pieces like that. Well contained and tells a story or two in just a few paragraphs. Love it!
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Dr Zee: Tut-tutt…please do not feed the trolls 🙂